Thread (yarn)
Thread is a type of yarn used for sewing.
Materials
Thread is made from a wide variety of materials. The following table lists common materials, a general description and what they are supposed to be good for. If your machine will sew with the thread, any thread can used for just about any purpose. This is very useful for someone who is trying to learn sewing. However, it should be remembered that where a thread is stronger than the material that it is being used to join, if seams are placed under strain the material may tear before the thread breaks. Garments are usually sewn with threads of lesser strength than the fabric so that if stressed the seam will break before the garment. Heavy goods that must withstand considerable stresses such as upholstery, car seating, tarpaulins, tents, and saddlery require very strong threads. Attempting repairs with light weight thread will usually result in rapid failure, though again, using a thread that is stronger than the material being sewn can end up causing rips in that material before the thread itself gives way.
| Material | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Spun traditional thread | general |
| Cotton/polyester | A cotton thread with a polyester core which is slightly stretchy but retains the traditional look of cotton | strength without sheen |
| Fusible | Fuses sewn fabrics together when ironed | binding and appliqué |
| Linen | A spun thread, typically in a thicker gauge than that used for fabric garments. It may be waxed for durability and resistance to mildew. | Traditional leather saddlery; leather luggage, handbags, and accessories; and beadwork. |
| Metallics | A delicate metallic coating protected by an outer coating providing extremely vibrant color/glitter and/or texture. | decoration |
| Nylon | A transparent monofillament which can be melted by an iron. Nylon is usually stronger than polyester. | strength with transparency |
| Polyester | A synthetic blend which is stronger and stretchier than cotton with little or no lint (may be texturized) | strength |
| Rayon | Made from cellulose, but not considered to be a natural fibre because it is highly processed. Useful for obtaining bright colors, though not always color-fast. | high sheen, soft texture |
| Silk | A very fine, strong and hard-to-see thread; tends to degrade over time, however. | high strength and often high sheen, used for attaching beads |
| Wool | A thicker thread. | homespun look, rougher texture, highly insulating, water absorbent |
| Water-soluble | Dissolves when washed | temporary basting |
Polyester/polyester core spun thread is made by wrapping staple polyester around a continuous polyester filament during spinning and plying these yarns into a sewing thread. Core Spun Thread
Different weights
Thread gauges
Yarns are measured by the density of the yarn, which is described by various units of textile measurement relating to a standardized length per weight. These units do not directly correspond to thread diameter.
The most common weight system specifies the length of the thread in kilometres required to weigh 1 kilogram. Therefore, a greater weight number indicates a thinner thread.
American standard of thread weight (wt) was adopted from Gunze Count standard (Japan). Gunze count standard uses two numbers separated by a forward slash. The first number indicates the weight of the internal threads and the second number indicates the number of threads wrapped together to make the finished thread. It is common to wrap three strands of the same weight to make one thread (as indicated in the chart), any number of strands may be used and sometimes only two strands are wrapped together to make the finished thread. The American standard drops the specification of the number of strands which are twisted together. Therefore, it does not accurately describe thread.
| Weight | Gunze Count | Common Use[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 60 wt | #60/3 | bobbin or appliqué |
| Thin | 50 wt | #50/3 | bobbin or appliqué |
| Regular | 40 wt | #40/3 | Quilting |
| Upholstery | 30 wt | #30/3 | Decorative |
| Heavy | 20 wt | #20/3 | Decorative |
Denier
A denier weight specification states how many grams 9,000 meters of the thread weighs. Unlike the common thread weight system, the greater the denier number, the thicker the thread. The denier weight system, like the common weight system, also specifies the number of strands of the specified weight which were wrapped together to make the finished thread.
Tex
Tex is the mass in grams of 1,000 meters of thread. If 1,000 meters weighs 25 grams, it is a tex 25. Larger tex numbers are heavier threads. Tex is used more commonly in Europe and Canada.
Conversion information
Thread weight conversion table
| Converting From | Converting To | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Denier | 9000 / weight |
| Weight | Tex | 1000 / weight |
| Denier | Weight | 9000 / denier |
| Denier | Tex | denier / 9 |
| Tex | Denier | tex x 9 |
| Tex | Weight | 1000 / tex |
For example: 40 weight = 225 denier = Tex 25. A common Tex number for general sewing thread is Tex 25 or Tex 30. A slightly heavier silk buttonhole thread suitable for bartacking, small leather items, and decorative seams might be Tex 40. A strong, durable upholstery thread, Tex 75. A heavy duty topstitching thread for coats, bags, and shoes, Tex 100. A very strong topstitching thread suitable for luggage and tarpaulins, Tex 265-Tex 290. But a fine serging thread, only Tex 13. For blindstitching and felling machines, an even finer Tex 8.
High-temperature sewing threads
High temperature sewing threads provide durability and resistance to extreme temperatures. Some threads can be used for applications up to 800 °C (1472 °F). There are a variety of different sewing threads available which have different applications and benefits.
Kevlar-coated stainless steel sewing threads have a high-temperature and flame-resistant steel core combined with Kevlar coating designed to facilitate easier machine sewing. The stainless steel core has a temperature resistance of up to 800 °C (1472 °F) and the Kevlar coating is heat-resistant up to 220 °C (428 °F).
PTFE coated glass sewing threads have an excellent temperature resistance combined with a PTFE coating to provide easier machine sewing. The glass core has a temperature resistance of up to 550 °C (1022 °F) and the PTFE coating is heat-resistant up to 230 °C (446 °F).
Nomex sewing threads are inherently flame-retardant and heat-resistant with a tough protective coating which resists abrasion during the sewing operation. It is temperature resistant up to 370 °C (698 °F).
Bonded nylon sewing threads are tough, coated with abrasion resistance, rot proofing, and have good tensile strength for lower temperature applications. They are temperature-resistant up to 120 °C (248 °F)
Bonded polyester sewing threads are tough, coated with abrasion resistance, rotproofing, and have exceptional tensile strength for lower temperatures but heavier-duty sewing operations. They are temperature-resistant up to 120 °C (248 °F)
See also
 |
Look up thread in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Notes
- ↑ "Thread Tips - Threads for Quilters". Quilting.about.com. 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
- ↑ "How to choose the right thread for your project and your sewing machine". Quiltbug.com. Retrieved 2011-11-30.